Brot-Dessous
Origin of the name Brot-Dessous
First written mention in 998, in the form « Broch », in the founding charter of the priory of Bevaix. The sources consulted do not explain the origin of the name (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Brot-Dessous
No founder or founding charter is known; the place appears in 998 in the founding charter of the priory of Bevaix. Located between the Areuse and the Solmont range, on the road linking the Littoral to the Val-de-Travers via Noiraigue, Brot was united with the community of Rochefort from 1524 to 1730, and the municipality included Brot-Dessus (today Brot-Plamboz) until 1888. It comprises Brot-Dessous, Fretereules and Champ-du-Moulin-Dessus (Champ-du-Moulin-Dessous belongs to Boudry). Brot-Dessous is today part of the municipality of Rochefort (merger of 1 January 2016).
History of Brot-Dessous
998. First mention, in the form « Broch », in the founding charter of the priory of Bevaix.
1360. First mention of the poor road linking Brot to Noiraigue.
15th century. From this century onwards, inhabitants of Brot own estates in the valley of Les Ponts.
1524-1730. Brot is united with the community of Rochefort.
1845. The chapel of Brot-Dessous is built.
1861. Brot-Dessous, until then in the parish of Bôle-Rochefort, now belongs to the parish of Rochefort.
1888. Brot-Dessus separates from the municipality (today the municipality of Brot-Plamboz).
1900-1935. Underground quarrying of Clusette limestone for the Furcil cement works.
1969. Closure of the village school (to be cross-checked).
1975. Opening of the Clusette tunnel, which replaces the old road to Noiraigue.
1998. Celebration of the millennium of Brot (to be cross-checked).
2015. On 29 November, 85 % of voters in Brot-Dessous accept the merger with Rochefort.
2016. On 1 January, Brot-Dessous is joined to the municipality of Rochefort.
Population of Brot-Dessous
| 1750 | 124 |
| 1850 | 251 |
| 1900 | 343 |
| 1950 | 242 |
| 2000 | 95 |
| 2015 | 103 (31 December, last census before the merger) |
Historic sites in Brot-Dessous
Chapel of Brot-Dessous. Built in 1845. According to Wikipédia, it was built in 1844-1845 to plans by Édouard de Sandoz-Rosières and received modern stained-glass windows in 1992 (to be cross-checked).
La Clusette. Passage between Brot-Dessous and Noiraigue, where a road is mentioned from 1360. Limestone was quarried there underground for the Furcil cement works from 1900 to 1935; the road tunnel opened in 1975.
Plants on the Areuse. On the banks of the Areuse stand the Val-de-Travers power station and the Les Molliats hydraulic plant, which supplies La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Brot-Dessous »
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Rochefort »
- État de Neuchâtel, arrêté du 10 février 2016 portant homologation des résultats du recensement cantonal de la population du 31 décembre 2015
- Commune de Rochefort, « Histoire »
- Wikipédia, « Brot-Dessous » (à recouper)
Other villages near Brot-Dessous
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